1867.] The Ariizans' and Labourers* Dwellings Bill. 215 



presentments, for, whatever may be the theory of the Bill, in practice 

 the mode of its execution will rest entirely with one official, who, 

 however honest he may be himself, may not always find it easy to 

 resist the importunity of those upon whom his material interests are 

 dependent. 



These are, however, matters to be regulated in committee, and as 

 regards the Bill itself, we can only repeat that its passage will 

 be, in our opinion, an event of far greater importance than that still 

 important one, the passing of a new Keform Bill. 



The latter is a measure which will only be useful in so far as it 

 enables the newly enfranchised to appoint as their representatives 

 men who will feel a deep interest in, and will promote, their welfare ; 

 whilst the former will in a brief space of time raise masses of degraded 

 beings, even then unenfranchised, from the status of mere animals 

 living and following their instincts in localities hardly to be called 

 houses, in which, if they were compelled to live, many of the lower 

 animals would soon become etiolated and would miserably perish. 

 There, at present, men and women live and die herded together 

 without any acquaintance with the decencies of civilized life, seeking 

 refuge from the tainted atmosphere of their wretched homes in the 

 gorgeous gin palaces that stand invitingly open to receive them, and 

 there their children are allowed to run riot, surrounded by every 

 condition necessary to breed thieves, vagabonds, and prostitutes. 



Will this be any longer tolerated in Britain ? We hope not ; we 

 look for a brighter day, not far distant, when the wealthier classes of 

 the community will, with one accord, acknowledge their obligation to 

 provide habitable dwellings for their poorer citizens, and so give them 

 an opportunity of acquiring the much-needed habits of modesty, 

 sobriety, and cleanliness, and a sense of self-respect without which no 

 one can be considered a member of a civilized community. 



